THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  ILLINOIS 

LIBRARY 


ND.N  CIRCULATING 

CHECK  FOR  UNBOUND 
CIRCULATING  COPY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS, 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station 

CHAMPAIGN,  FEBRUARY,  1892. 


BULLETIN  NO.  19. 


CONTENTS. 


EXPERIMENTS  WITH  OATS,   1891. 

THE  CHINCH  BUG  IN  ILLINOIS,  1891-92. 


EXPERIMENTS  WITH  OATS,  1891. 

This  article  gives  results  of  experiments  with  oats  conducted  dur- 
ing 1891,  in  regard  to  rate  of  seeding,  depth  of  sowing,  and  comparison 
of  varieties.  Comparisons  are  also  made  with  results  of  similar  experi- 
ments in  previous  years. 

The  trials  were  all  made  on  the  fertile,  dark-colored  prairie  soil  of 
the  Station  grounds.  The  season  was  unusually  favorable  for  oats.  In 
central  Illinois,  as  well  as  over  much  of  the  United  States,  larger  yields 
were  reported  than  for  many  years  past.  The  weight  per  bushel  was 
also  very  large.  The  rainfall  during  the  season  of  growth  was  unusu- 
ally light — 6.51  inches  for  April,  May,  and  June,  while  the  average  for 
these  months  for  ten  years  has  been  12.68  inches.  The  rainfall  during 
the  autumn  and  winter  preceding  had  also  been  very  light — 11.17  inches 
for  the  six  months  from  October  to  March.  The  average  temperature 
for  the  three  months  of  growth  was  nearly  the  same  as  in  1890 

RAINFALL  AND  TEMPERATURE. 


Average  o 

I  10  years. 

i8i 

*9- 

i8( 

JO. 

18 

?i- 

Rain, 
in. 

Temper- 
ature. 

Rain, 
in. 

Temper- 
ature. 

Rain, 
in. 

Temper- 
ature. 

Rain, 
in. 

Temper- 
ature 

April  .  .  . 
May  .... 
June  .  .  . 

3-19 
4  45 
5-04 

52.4° 
64.6 
7i 

0.61 
5-52 
6.81 

52° 

59-3 
65-5 

4.11 
3.56 
3-8 

52-3° 
58.3 
74.6 

3-54 

0.89 
2.08 

52.8° 
58.4 
72 

12.68 

12.94 

11.47 

6.51 

34  BULLETIN   NO.    19.  [February, 

and  as  the  average  for  ten  years,  except  in  May,  in  which  it  was  6.2 
degrees  cooler. 

In  all  cases,  except  in  testing  the  effect  of  depth  of  covering,  the  oats 
were  sown  broadcast  by  hand. 

The  largest  yield  of  grain  was  from  sowing  3.5  bu.  per  acre, 
with  little  variation  between  the  plats  sown  at  rate  of  2,  2.5,  3,  3.5  and  4 
bu.  per  acre.  The  average  yield  for  four  years  was  slightly  larger 
when  3.5  bu.  were  sown,  with  comparatively  little  difference  whether 
2  2.5,  3,  3.5  or  4  bu.  were  sown.  For  the  four  years'  sowings,  one 
or  one  and  one-half  bu.  gave  smaller  average  yields  than  any  of  the 
heavier  seedings.  The  weight  of  the  grain  per  bushel  was  less  in  the 
case  of  the  light  seeding.  The  yield  of  straw  increased  with  the  increase 
in  rate  of  seeding.  For  the  two  preceding  years  the  lightest  seeding 
gave  the  largest  yield  of  straw.  For  the  four  years  there  was  compara- 
tively little  difference  in  the  yield  of  straw. 

The  results  of  the  trials  of  different  depths  of  planting  were  affected 
by  other  causes,  yet  seemed  to  give  best  returns  from  covering  two 
inches  deep,  but  without  great  variation  from  covering  one  to  four  inches 
deep.  In  trials  for  four  years  the  best  results  have  not  come  from  cover- 
ing the  same  depth  in  any  two  years. 

In  tests  of  44  varieties  on  55  plats  the  average  yield  per  acre  was 
66.6  bu.  of  grain,  weighing  33.5  Ib.  per  bushel  and  2,840  Ib.  of  straw. 
Four  varieties  gave  more  than  80  bu.,  and  but  one  less  than  50  bu.  per 
acre.  Nineteen  varieties  on  21  plats  gave  an  average  yield  of  74.7  bu., 
with  averaging  weight  of  34.12  Ib.  per  bushel. 

In  the  seed  sown  there  was  an  average  of  71.7  per  cent  of  kernel 
in  the  berry,  and  of  70.3  per  cent  in  the  crop.  The  Virginia  winter, 
with  the  smallest  yield  and  the  lightest  weight  per  bushel,  had  the  largest 
per  cent  of  kernel  in  the  crop.  The  smallest  per  cent  of  kernel  in  the 
crop  was  62.1  in  a  plat  of  welcome  badly  down;  the  other  plats  of  wel- 
come had  a  large  percentage.  Omitting  these  exceptional  plats  the  great- 
est difference  in  per  cent  of  kernel  in  seed  was  16;  in  the  crop,  11.8. 

The  early  maturing  varieties  stood  first  in  average  yield  of  both 
grain  and  straw,  weight  per  bushel,  and  size  of  kernels,  but  lowest  in  per 
cent  of  kernel.  In  1890  these  varieties  gave  the  most  grain  but  the 
least  yield  of  straw  and  the  lowest  per  cent  of  kernel. 

The  varieties  with  closed  panicles  gave  a  somewhat  larger  yield  of 

both  grain  and  straw  and  a  larger  per  cent  of  kernel  than  those  with 

open  panicles.     In  1890,  there  was  little  difference  in  yield. 

The  white  varieties  gave  the  largest  average  yield  of  grain  and  the 

smallest  per  cent  of  kernel;  the  black  stood  second  in  both  respects;  the 

few  dun-colored  stood  lowest  in  yield  and  highest  in  per  cent  of  kernel. 

In  1889,  the  order  was  the  same  throughout.     In  1890,  the  dun-colored 

varieties  stood  first  and  the  white  last  in  yield. 

No  one  variety  has  been  shown  to  be  greatly  superior  to  all  others. 

A  different  variety  stood  first  in  yield  in  each  of  the  three  years. 


,892.] 


FIELD    EXPERIMENTS    WITH    OATS,    l8ai. 


35 


Not  counting  an  exceptionally  late  variety,  there  was  a  difference 
of  24  days  in  date  of  cutting.  Five  varieties  were  cut  July  6th  and  two 
July  3oth.  Of  the  55  plats  28  were  cut  between  July  i6th  and  2oth. 

The  trials  for  three  years  do  not  show  that  the  yield  is  determined 
either  by  the  length,  plumpness,  or  weight  of  the  berry,  or  by  the  weight 
per  bushel  of  the  grain.  The  varieties  with  long,  slender,  light  berries, 
and  light  weight  per  bushel,  have  had  the  largest  per  cent  of  kernel, 
and  hence,  the  highest  food  value. 

Experiment  No.  12.      Oats,  Quantity  of  Seed  per  Acre. 

The  land  used  for  this  experiment  had  been  in  corn  for  three  years, 
and  was  plowed  and  harrowed  the  day  before  the  seeding. 

April  1 6th  7  contiguous  plats,  each  i  x  16  rods,  were  sown  broad- 
cast with  welcome  oats,  at  the  rate  of  from  one  to  four  bu.  per  acre, 
and  covered  by  harrowing  twice  with  a  slant-toothed  harrow. 

When  harvested,  plat  i,  which  was  sown  at  the  rate  of  one  bushel 
per  acre,  was  slightly  green.  Each  succeeding  plat  became  more  ripe 
to  that  of  the  thickest  seeding,  which  was  fully  ripe  and  about  5  per 
cent  lodged. 

The  following  table  gives  the  yield  per  acre  of  both  grain  and 
straw  for  each  of  the  four  years  the  experiment  has  been  in  progress; 
also  the  averages  of  the  four  years.  For  particulars  of  former  seasons 
see  bulletins  No.  3,  7,  and  12. 

YIELD  OF  OATS  FROM  DIFFERENT  AMOUNTS  OF  SEED,  1888,  '89,  '90,  '91. 


Seed 
per 
a.,  bu. 

Grain,  per  acre,  bu. 

Straw,  per  acre,  Ib. 

Lb.  per  bu. 

1888. 

1889. 

1890. 

1891. 

Av. 

1888. 

1889. 

1890. 

iSgi. 

Av. 

1889. 

1890. 

1891. 

i 
i-5 

2 
2-5 

3 
3-5 
4 

52-5 
59-4 
61.4 
63.8 
61.9 
625 
60.6 

36.3 
33-i 
42.5 
43-8 
47-2 
52-1 
50.6 

25-3 

21.6 

17-5 
29.1 

27-5 

24.7 

21.9 

36.7 

56.9 

74-8 
72.6 
76.6 
79-7 
76-3 

37-7 
42.7 
49".! 
52-3 
53-3 
54-7 
52.3 

3820 
4400 

454° 
4860 
5220 
4400 
4260 

4600 
3800 
4000 
3000 
4400 
4100 
3200 

2820 
1740 
1800 
2460 
1960 

2000 
2020 

1275 
1970 
2748 
2638 
2790 
3060 
3110 

3129 
2978 
3272 
3240 
3593 
3390 
3173 

25.5 
25 
28 
28 
29 
29-5 
29  5 

26 
26.5 
24 
29 
29 
28 
29 

28.5 
3i 
3i-5 
32 
32-5 
32 
32 

Experiment  No.  75.      Oats,  Depth  of  Sowing. 

April  8th  60  selected  berries  of  welcome  oats  were  sown  in  each  of 
twelve  rows,  ten  feet  long.  The  first  two  rows  were  covered  one  inch 
deep,  and  each  succeeding  two  rows  one  inch  deeper,  rows  n  and  12 
being  covered  six  inches  deep. 

June  1 6th  the  oats  of  rows  i  to  6  were  looking  fairly  well;  those 
of  rows  7  to  12,  much  smaller  and  of  a  yellow  color. 

The  sparrows  so  interfered  with  the  grain  that  the  actual  yield 
could  not  be  ascertained  and  only  the  number  of  panicles  was  counted 
for  each  row. 

The  relative  yield  is  calculated  from  the  number  of  panicles,  sup 
posing  the  relation  to  be  the  same  as  in  1890. 


BULLETIN    NO.     19. 


[February, 


NUMBER  OF  PANICLES  AND  RELATIVE  YIELD   OF  OATS   SOWN   AT  DIFFERENT  DEPTHS 

FOR  FOUR  YEARS. 


Depth  of 

18 

88. 

18 

39. 

18 

90. 

18 

91. 

sowing,  in. 

No.  of 
panicles. 

Relative 
yield. 

No.  of 
panicles. 

Relative 
yield. 

No.  of 
panicles. 

Relative 
yield. 

No.  of 
panicles. 

Relative 
yield. 

i 

2 

3 

4 

K 

566 

495 
465 
469 
481 

90 

80 

TOO 

95 

80 

407 
424 
434 
439 

81 
69 
76 

IOO 

362 
312 
307 
269 

181 

IOO 

76 
65 
65 
29 

205 
338 
192 
188 

136 

69 

IOO 

49 

55 
26 

6 

445 

55 

75 

12 

Qi 

18 

Experiment  No  84.      Oats,  7est  of  Varieties. 

The  same  varieties,  44  in  number,  have  been  tested  on  55  plats  in 
1891  as  in  1890.  The  seed,  which  was  from  the  crop  of  1890,  was  some 
mixed,  notwithstanding  the  care  taken  to  keep  the  varieties  separate. 

The  land  used  in  this  experiment  consists  of  three  tracts.  Tracts 
(a)  and  (b),  separated  by  a  space  of  20  feet,  and  containing  plats  i  to 
40,  had  been  in  corn  for  three  years.  Tract  (c),  which  was  30  rods 
northwest  of  (b),  contained  plats  41  to  52,  and  had  been  in  corn  in  1890 
and  in  oats  in  1889.  The  land  was  all  fall-plowed  without  removing 
the  stalks. 

April  8th  plats  i  to  28  were  disked  lengthwise,  sown  broadcast 
with  oats  at  the  rate  of  2^£  bu.  per  acre  by  weight,  disked  cross- 
wise, seeded  with  clover,  and  harrowed  lightly  with  a  slant-toothed  har- 
row. April  1 3th  plats  29  to  52  were  sown,  the  treatment  and  quantity 
of  seed  being  the  same  as  of  the  other  plats. 


DUPLICATE  PLATS. 

In  order  to  determine  the  degree  of  inaccuracy  incident  to  the  ex- 
periment, seven  varieties  were  sown  on  duplicate  plats,  as  shown  in  the 
following  table.  The  duplicates  were  so  arranged  as  to  give  the  maxi- 
.mum  variation  likely  to  occur  on  the  tracts  used. 

Leaving  out  of  consideration  plat  38,  of  welcome,  which  was  nearly 
all  lodged,  the  average  difference  in  yield  of  grain  between  two  plats 
of  the  same  variety  was  6.6  bu.  per  acre;  the  least  difference,  i  bu.,  and 
the  greatest  difference,  19.9  bu. 

A  yield  of  6.6  bu.  per  acre  by  one  variety  above  that  of  another 
does  not  therefore  necessarily  indicate  that,  for  this  season,  the  one 
is  superior  to  the  other.  The  varieties  giving  the  largest  yield,  and  also 
those  yielding  the  least,  were  widely  distributed  over  the  tracts  used. 

The  average  difference  in  the  weight  of  a  bushel  of  oats  from  plats 
of  the  same  variety  was  about  6-7  lb.;  the  greatest  difference,  \y2  Ib. 
There  seems  to  be  no  relation  between  the  yield  of  oats  and  the  weight 
per  bushel,  the  size  of  berries,  or  the  per  cent,  of  kernel. 


FIELD    EXPERIMENTS    WITH    OATS,    1891. 


37 


YIELD  OF  DUPLICATE  PLATS  IN  1891. 


Yield  p 

er  acre. 

Lb. 

Lb. 

No. 

Wt.       100 

Percent. 

Name  of  variety. 

Grain, 
bu. 

Straw, 
Ib. 

for   each 
Ib.  grain. 

£r 

in. 

per 
sq.    ft. 

berries, 
grams. 

in 
berries. 

Welcome  .      ... 

75 

2840 

1.18 

33.5 

41 

37 

2  56 

70.4 

72.5 

3240 

i  .4 

34.25 

42 

45 

2.48 

71  .7 

,i 

52    1 

2705 

.62 

QC    25 

3O 

2    51 

62     I 

,. 

73  7 

35OO 

.48 

32.75 

41 

34 

2   63 

68  2 

Texas  red  

63   4 

2IIO 

.04 

33 

37 

39 

2.62 

74.7 

56  6 

27  CO 

C2 

24    c 

«        .1 

58   7 

244.O 

7 

34 

«        ., 

64  4 

2^8o 

25 

33  .  5 

Pringle's  progress.  . 
Early  Dakota  

83.4 
74-7 
56.6 

2850 
2450 
247O 

.07 

•  03 
.36 

28 
27.75 
30.75 

38 
33 
38 

38 
32 
46 

2.34 
2.65 
2.03 

67.9 
64.5 
73-4 

70  8 

280^ 

28 

31    25 

aq 

•32 

2.15 

74    5 

New  red  rust  proof. 
Canadian  black.  .  .  . 
Black  Russian  

61.9 
67.4 

52.3 
59-2 
80.8 

2040 

2425 
3005 

2925 

3495 

.03 
.13 

•  79 
•54 
•35 

31 
31-75 
32 

30.75 
31  .75 

35 
35 
40 
38 
42 

CO  N  W>  CO  f 

5  CO  CO  CO  ^  ^ 

2.7 

2.86 

2.33 

2.28 

2.22 

74-3 
72.5 
73 
76-3 
71.4 

60.9 

2010 

•03 

30-75 

35 

29 

2-37 

71-4 

SYNOPSIS  OF  VARIETIES. 

The  same  scheme  is  used  in  the  table,  on  page  38,  as  in  bulletin 
No.  12,  for  the  crop  of  1890,  and,  with  the  following  exceptions,  the 
classification  is  the  same: 

The  varieties,  Texas  rust  proof,  Texas  red,  and  new  red  rust  proof, 
have  been  changed  from  the  early-matiiring  to  the  medium,  the  last 
coming  also  in  the  late.  The  variety  welcome  comes  in  both  the  early 
and  the  medium.  Canada  white  and  Swedish  have  been  changed  from 
the  open  panicled  to  the  closed;  prolific  side,  common  mixed,  white 
Russian,  improved  white  Russian,  and  black  Highlander  from  the  closed 
to  the  open;  prolific  side  from  berry  long  to  short  and  Swedish  from 
short  to  long. 

The  early-maturing  varieties  are  those  harvested  July  6th  to  I4th; 
the  medium,  July  i6th  to  2oth,  and  the  late,  July  24th  to  3oth,  excepting 
Virginia  winter,  which  was  harvested  Aug.  7th,  and,  being  a  winter 
variety,  may  be  left  out  of  the  account. 

YIELD. 

The  yield  of  grain  was  unusually  large,  being  for  the  55  plats  an 
average  of  66.6  bu.  per  acre,  and  the  yield  of  straw  was  2,840  Ib.  per 
acre.  In  1889  and  1890,  respectively,  the  average  yield  of  grain  per 
acre  was  41.2  and  35.2  bu.  and  of  straw,  2,394  arid  3,063  Ib.  For  de- 
tails, see  tables  on  pp.  39-41. 

QUALITY. 

The  average  per  cent  of  kernel  in  the  berries  of  the  seed  was  71.7; 
of  the  crop,  70.3,  which  was  a  decrease  of  1.4  per  cent. 


BULLETIN    NO.     19. 


[February, 


SYNOPSIS  OF  VARIETIES. 


Yield,  bu. 


Berry  long.  .  • 

Early  Dakota  
Pringle's  progress  ...    . 

'White  Swede  
Early  Lackawanna  . 

.63-7 
•79 

-72.31 
.66.2 

-7I3 

r  Panicle  open.  .  j  White  ^ 

White  bonanza  
Second   premium  
Welcome 

•70-3 
.72 
.74    3 

White  Victoria  
Clydesdale 

.66.6 

73   i 

[  Berry  short. 

Hopetown 

67   7 

r6g  8 

>, 

White  wonder  

.58.7 

rt  ^ 

Prize  cluster  

•  7°-  5 

W 

Badger  queen 

70  6 

White  Belgian   .... 

70  Q 

Hargett's    white  .    .  . 

61.1 

Centennial    

.62.3 

Panicle  closed   -\  ^Vhite  -\  Berry  short 

Canada  white 

6^    Q 

'  White  schonen  

.67.2  ' 

| 

American  banner 

-73  i 

•  70  i 

f  White  -^ 

'  American  triumph  
r  Welcome  

.69.7 

.62.  4' 

I 

Prolific  side 

56  7 

k  Berry  short  . 

Wide  awake 

58  3 

03.2 

-Panicle  open.  .  «j 
Black.  <J  Berry  long.  .  < 

Improved  American  .  .  . 
Black  Tartarian  

•75-2 
.58.3 

(  Texas  rust  proof  

72    2 

rJ 

^Dun.  .  j  Berry  long.  .  - 

Texas  red  

.60.8 
" 

0 

s 

1' 

f  Berry  long 

New  red  rust  proof  .  .  . 
f  Swedish                 

.6l  .9 

.6s 

s 

i  Japan  

•75-8~ 

White  4 

Baltic  white 

67    2 

Probstier 

6s 

68 

[  Berry  short 

i  Egyptian 

64  i 

.  Panicle  closed.  - 

f  Black  Russian 

70  8^ 

Black   •{  Berry  long.  . 

j  New  Dakota  gray  
^  Black  prolific  

•85 
.68.7 

72.7 

^  Prince  Edward'  s  Island 
(  Common  mixed          .  .  . 

.66.2 

67    2 

f                                 White  •{  Berry  long 

\  White  Russian  

.76.4 

(74.6 

j' 

Panicle  open..     Black   .;  Berry  long 

i 

(  Imp.  white  Russian  .  .  . 

{  Canadian  black  
'(  Black  Highlander  

(  Virginia  winter 

.80.3 

•55.8 
65.9 

IS   9 

-60.9 

^Dun.  .  \  Berry  long.  . 

1  New  red  rust  proof.  .  .  . 

.67.4 

\ 

I  Panicle  closed.  <{  White   !  Berry  long.  . 


^?ldfn  ^ant  *de-  V  '  '  ' 
Giant  yellow  French  .  .  . 


2    \ 


68.6 


Omitting  the  variety  Virginian  winter,  Canadian  black  has  the  largest 
per  cent  of  kernel  in  both  seed  and  crop;  and,  omitting  plat  38  of  wel- 
come, which  was  badly  down,  Clydesdale  has  the  lowest  per  cent  of 


1892.] 


FIELD    EXPERIMENTS    WITH    OATS,    189!. 


39 


COMPARATIVE  YIELD  OF  VARIETIES  OF  OATS— 1891. 


Plat 
No. 

Name  of  variety. 

Comparative  yield. 

23 
5 

21 
46 

45 
27 
33 
3i 
52 
47 
35 
13 

22 

6 

I 

10 

18 
5° 
17 
16 

9 
36 
43 
24 
42 

14 
51 
44 
34 

28 

12 
25 

7 
4i 
29 
3i 
30 
8 

20 

3 

19 

49 

'48* 

15 
37 
32 
26 

4 
39 
40 

New  Dakota  gray  .... 
Pringle's  progress  
Black  Russian 

85 

83-4 
80.8 

80.3 
76.4 
75-8 
75-2 
75 
74-7 
73-7 
73-4 
73  -1 
72.5 
72.3 
72.2 
72 
70.9 
70.8 
70.6 
70.5 
70-3 
69.7 
69.2 
68.7 
68 
67.7 
67.4 
67.2 
67.2 
67.2 
66.6 
66.2 
66.2 

65^9 
65 
65 
64.1 

63-9 
62.3 
61.9 
61.1 
60.9 
60.8 
59-2 
58.7 
58.3 
58.3 
56.7 
56.6 
52-3 
1.5.  <3 

Imp.  white  Russian.  .  . 
White  Russian  
Japan 

Improved   American.. 
Welcome  

Pringle's  progress  
Welcome  

American  banner  

Clydesdale  

Welcome  

White  Swede  
Texas  rust  proof  

Second  premium  
White  Belgian 

Harly  Dakota 

Badger  queen 

Prize  cluster 

\Vhite  bonanza 

American  triumph  .... 
Giant  yellow  French  .  . 
Black  prolific 

Golden  giant  side  
Hopetown 

New  red  rust  proof.  .  . 
Common  mixed 

White  schonen 

Baltic  white 

White  Victoria 

Prince  Edward's  Is.  .  . 
Early  Lackawana  
Black  Highlander  
Probsteir 

Swedish 

EervDtian 

Canada  white 

Centennial 

New  red  rust  proof.  .  . 
Hargett's  white 

Black  Russian 

Texas  red  (Av.  4  plats) 
Canadian  black 

• 

\Vhite  wonder 

Black  Tartarian 

Wide  awake 

Canadian  black 

[Virginia  winter  

-_— 

kernel  in  the  seed,  and  Pringle's  progress  the  lowest  in  the  crop.  The 
greatest  difference  in  the  seed  of  two  varieties  is  16  per  cent;  in  the 
crop,  1 1. 8  per  cent. 


4o 


BULLETIN    NO.     19. 


[February, 


g  I 
i  s 

S    o 

&*» 

b     « 

o    < 

a  & 


O    Ot^O    O  — '  — •  — • •  —  — •    O  —  \S.^    O  — 


No.  of  stubs  on 
i  sq.  ft. 


Is*  r-^vo   POO 


M  inro»nr^ 


J-. 

fc  8 


.j  £  be 


In  crop. 


i  ^f        ^t-  N  oo   i^oo   in        M   ^-  ro 

ro  t^vO  oo   o  ^O  t^-  O   ^  O^oo  t^-  t^oo  O  in  o^  M   M 
vo    t^  t^*vO  O  ^O  vO  vO  O  O  ^O    r^  t^v 


In  seed. 


In  crop. 


In  seed. 


Ripe  and  cut 
July. 


Height,  inches. 


Lb.  per  bu. 


Lb.  straw  for 
each  Ib.  grain. 


^  o\oo  vo  t~»      vo   M   ro  t^-co 


N        m  ^-  m 


m  rj-  t-^oo 


1010       into 


101010       u->ioin>o 


t--  T)-  roo   r^  a>  M 

O\  O    O    fO  O    m  ^ 


Yield  per  acre 


Straw,  Ib. 


Grain,  bu. 


OOOOQinOinOinoooinoinoO'nininOO 
mi-i   Tt-t^vn<Noo  t^mM   TJ-M   o   M  N  NOO  t>-oo  M   a>  -^-vo 

NnO-^-OON^<NCiOOOOOO 


tt-5  g 

Kiiii 

^^w£^WU^c/5^^Uffi^Pu«^ffiUM>Z 


No.  of  plat.          | 


ro^invO    t^OO 


JXOO    CTiO    i-.   N    ro 


1892.] 


FIELD    EXPERIMENTS    WITH    OATS,   189!. 


41 


_rt   as  J^  jti   as   a3_rt   rt_rt_rt  j^rS  ,3  g  ^  g 

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ro  ro  ro  •<*-  CM    fO  ro  ro 


1$ 


moo  oo 

O>  O>  M    M    O  00 
vO  O    C^  t^  C^VO 


m  t-^oo   ro  m        TJ-OO   TJ-  H   H   ro        ro  <^  ^roo  oo  VQ  vo 


CM   ro  M   mrom^-M   -3-00 


O    OvOOvOvOOvOOvOvOvOvO    Ovo 


ro  O   ro  rt-oo    O 


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ro  ro  ro  ro  ro 


OOmmOOOO 
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m  CM  vo  •<*• 


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Tt-in-^-CM   o   M   inc^iOoo   Tfrj-t-^Tfin 


t->  CM    t-xOO    CM  M 

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vo  vo  m  t^vo 


CM   N  mmoo   a>  t>.vo   O   ro 
mmiOMvovovovo  t^oo  t>-  mv 


^    '.'...'.'. 

G      

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ro-Ororororororororo 


42 


BULLETIN    NO. 


[.Ft  bruary, 


From  the  table  of  varieties  classified,  below,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
early-maturing  varieties  are  superior  to  either  the  medium  or  late  in  the 
average  yield  of  both  grain  and  straw,  the  weight  per  bushel  and  size  of 
berries;  but  are  inferior  to  either  of  these  in  per  cent  of  kernel.  As  to 
berries  short  plump,  and  long  slender,  there  is  very  little  difference  in 
yield,  a  noticeable  difference  in  weight  per  bushel  in  favor  of  the  short 
plump,  and  a  difference  of  2.1  per  cent  in  kernel  in  favor  of  the  long 
slender. 

As  to  berries,  white,  black,  or  dun-colored,  the  white  gave  the 
largest  yield  of  grain  and  the  smallest  per  cent  of  kernel;  the  dun- 
colored  gave  the  smallest  yield  and  the  largest  per  cent  of  kernel. 

As  to  panicles  open  or  closed,  the  latter  is  superior  in  yield  of  both 
grain  and  straw  and  also  in  per  cent  of  kernel. 

As  to  weight  per  bushel,  those  which  weigh  less  than  32  pounds  are 
superior  in  both  yield  and  per  cent  of  kernel.  Nothwithstanding  the 
common  belief  to  the  contrary,  those  oats  which  weigh  least  to  the 
bushel  have  usually  the  highest  per  cent  of  kernel,  and,  consequently, 
the  highest  food  value.  Take,  for  a  striking  example,  the  variety  Vir- 
ginia winter.  This  season  it  was  least  in  yield  of  grain,  15.9  bu.,  and  in 
weight  per  bushel,  22*^  Ib.,  but  highest  in  per  cent  of  kernel,  78.8. 

YIELD,  WEIGHT,  PER  CENT.  OF  KERNEL  IN  VARIETIES  AS  CLASSIFIED,  1891. 


Classification. 

2 
p 

a 

u 
P 

w 

Yield  per 
acre. 

Lb.  straw  for  each 
Ib.  grain.  ...*.. 

r 

cr 

K 

cr 

o 

No.stubsonisq.ft 

ffi 

2. 
C»Q' 
cr 

Wt.  of    100 
berries  in 
grams. 

Percent,  of 
kernel  in 
berries. 

crO 

82. 

»-B 

r 

•a  % 

11 

d." 

0) 

3 

3 

i 

•o 

d 

0 

3 
•9 

Maturing  early 

20 
25 

9 
25 
29 
38 
9 
7 
41 
i3 
38 
16 

33 

21 

35 
19 
30 
24 

69 

66.4 
67-3 
67.3 
67.7 
68.5 
66.4 
63.5 
67 
69.2 
67.2 
68.2 

67.8 

67.1 
67-3 
67.9 
66.4 
68.8 

2919 
2844 
2699 
2964 
2914 
2862 

3155 
2371 
2769 
3094 
2874 
2784 

2794 

2931 

2787 
2959 

2976 

2741 

1-33 
•34 
•  27 
.38 
.28 

•  3i 
•49 
.18 
•  30 
•  39 
•  34 

.20 
.29 

.38 
.30 
.36 
•30 
.36 

35-4 
33-6 
30.7 
36.5 
3i.4 
34-5 
31.2 
32.8 
33-8 
33-7 
35-3 
30 

34.26 

32.98 
32.49 
36.09 
33-2 
34-4 

36 
36 
35 
35 
36 
35 
37 
36 
36 
34 
35 
36 

35 

36 
35 
36 
36 
35 

43 
41 
34 
44.1 

38.5 
42 
40 
36 
41 
41 
43 
38 

4i 

41 
39 
43 
40 

42 

2.28 
2.29 
2.40 
2.32 
2-33 

2.34 

2.12 

2.66 
2.31 
2.35 
2-34 
2.29 

2.48 

2.  II 
2.36 
2.26 

2-37 
2.28 

2.60 

2.46 

2.59 

2.62 

2.31 
2.57 

2.33 
2.70 
2.63 

2-47 
2.60 
2.41 

2-57 

2.48 
2-49 
2.63 
2.49 
2-59 

68.2 

72.5 
76.9 
68.7 

74-4 
70.6 

74-5 
74-4 
71.2 

73.3 
70.5 
74.i 

7i.8 

71-3 
74.2 

67.3 
73-6 
69-4 

68.7 
71.1 
70.8 
69 

71  i 
69.6 
70.6 
74-2 
69.9 
70.6 
69.9 
70.6 

72.6 

69.5 
71.2 
68.2 
72.4 
67.5 

Maturing  medium 

Maturing  late  .          ... 

Berries,  short  plump  

Berries,  long  slender  

Berries   white 

Berries,  black 

Berries,  dun-colored  
Panicles,  open    

Panicles,  closed  

Wt.  per  bu.,  32  Ib.  or  more.  . 
Wt.  per  Ib.,  less  than  32  Ib.  .  . 
Wt.  of  seed  per  100  berries, 
2  .  25  grams  or  more     

Wt.  of  seed  per  100  berries, 
less  than  2  .  25  grams  

Kernel  in  seed,  70$  or  more.  . 
Kernel  in  seed,  less  than  70$. 
Kernel  in  crop,  70^  or  more  .  . 
Kernel  in  crop,  less  than  70$. 

Thirty  varieties  have  been  tested  for  three  years  and  14  additional 
ones  for  two  years. 


1892.] 


FIELD    EXPERIMENTS    WITH    OATS,   189!. 


43 


The  table  gives  the  yield  of  both  grain  and  straw  for  each  year, 
also  the  rank  according  to  yield  of  grain  of  the  30  varieties  for  each  of 
three  years  and  of  the  14  for  each  of  two  years.  The  average  yield  of 

YIELD  OF  STRAW  AND  OF  GRAIN  OF  THIRTY  VARIETIES  FOR  THREE  YEARS,   AND  OF 

FOURTEEN    VARIETIES    FOR    TWO    YEARS. 


Name  of  Variety. 

Straw  per  acre,  Ib. 

Grain  per  acre,  bu. 

1889. 

1890. 

1891. 

Av. 

i! 

W 

g 

t«r 

20 
17 

2 

4 

30 

I 
6 

M 

8 

3 
ii 

7 
18 

12 
10 
23 

5 
15 
13 
24 
19 
16 
28 
25 

22 
21 
9 
26 

29 
27 

589. 

il 

X 

V 

0 
?r 

59o. 
W 

it 

PO 

V 

o 
?r 

2 

I 
23 

8 
15 
13 
10 

7 

5 

12 
26 
II 
17 

3 

21 

18 
18 

22 

16 

20 
26 

9 
*4 
24 
25 
27 
29 
28 
30 

3 
13 

i 

2 

7 
5 
10 

4 

12 

8 
6 

9 
ii 

14 

!9i- 

w 

c 

Av. 

W 

o 

jo  Varieties  tested  3  years. 
Pringle's  progress  

1700 

220O 
32OO 
2700 
I60O 
2800 
2OOO 
2400 
2200 
2500 
2400 
23OO 
20OO 
2350 
2500 
2000 
2500 
3OOO 
2300 
2200 
2500 
2IOO 
23OO 
27OO 
2400 
2400 
220O 
29OO 
2800 
2800 

2580 
3980 
2840 
3660 
3320 
3300 
2560 
3820 
2960 
2660 
3200 
2740 
I30O 

3213 
3220 
2640 
3740 
3360 
3320 
3800 
3260 
2540 
3120 
3020 
2640 
2700 
2720 
4180 
3960 
3000 

3200 
2760 
3780 
22OO 
3010 
3670 
4000 
3350 
2550 
3080 
2580 
2580 
3320 
3790 

2650 
3760 
2682 

3435 
2250 

2445 
2950 

2752 
3000 

2775 
3025 
2430 
3080 
3071 
3055 
2232 
2270 

2715 
2590 
4520 
2440 
2320 
3270 
3050 
3125 
2685 
2375 
2965 
2915 
2410 

2815 
2470 
3170 
3225 
2910 

4I5° 
2490 

2505 
3275 
2980 
2770 
3280 
2320 
2665 

2310 

3313 
2907 
3265 
2390 
2848 

2503 
2991 
2720 
2645 
2875 
2490 
2127 
2878 

2925 
2291 

2837 
3025 

2737 
3507 
2750 
2320 
2897 
2923 
2722 
2595 
2432 
3348 
3235 
2737 

3007 
2615 

3475 
2712 
2960 
396o 

3245 
2927 
2912 
3030 
2675 
2930 
2820 
3227 

40 
41.3 
51-3 
47.5 
30 

53-8 
46.3 
42.5 
44.1 

50.3 
42.8 

46.3 
40.6 
42.6 
43.4 
36.9 
47.2 
42.1 
42.5 
36.9 
4° 
42.1 

31-9 
35-6 
36.9 
37-2 
43-8 
33-8 
30.6 
32.2 

3 

7 

2 

6 

i 
17 

10 

5 

22 

29 
II 

25 

9 

8 
a8 

4 

12 

J4 
13 
15 

16 

21 
27 
23 

18 
26 
19 

20 
30 

2 

I 

14 
12 

3 
6 

8 
4 
9 
ii 

10 

13 

7 

48.1 

39-4 

48.8 

40.3 
55.9 
34-4 
37-5 
40.6 
33.8 
25-5 
37-2 
30.6 
37  8 
38 
26  6 

45 
31-9 
35-9 
35-9 
35-9 
35-6 
35-6 
33-8 
27.8 
33-4 
34.4 
28.6 

34-4 
33.8 

20 

41 
49-7 
26.5 
3I.I 
36.9 
35-3 
36.3 

33-2 
36.4 
32.8 

3L9 
32 
3°-9 
35-3 

79 
85 
63-7 
75.8 
72.2 
69.2 

70.3 
70.8 

73-1 
75.2 
70.5 
73-4 
70.6 
68.4 

76.4 
64.6 
67.2 
67.7 
64.1 
68.7 
65 
58.7 
70.9 

69.7 
62.3 
61.1 
58.3 
55-7 
58.3 
15-9 

72 
60.8 
80.3 

72.3 
66.6 
67.2 

65.9 
68 

63.9 
66.2 
67.2 
66.2 
65 
56.7 

55-7 
55-2 
54-6 
54-5 
52.7 
52.5 
51-4 
51-3 
50.3 
50.3 
50.2 
50.1 
49-7 
49-7 
48.8 
48.8 
48.8 
48.6 
47-5 
47-2 
46.9 
45-5 
45-5 
44-4 
44-2 
44-2 
43-6 
41-3 
40.9 
22.7 

56-5 
55  2 
53 
5i  7 
51-7 
51-2 
51.1 
50.6 
50.1 
49-5 
49-5 
49.1 
48 
46 

New  Dakota  gray 

Early  Dakota 

Japan 

Texas  rust  proof   

Giant  yellow  French  

White  bonanza  

Black  Russian 

Clydesdale 

Improved  American  

Prize  cluster  

American  banner  

Badger  queen 

"\Velcome 

White  Russian 

New  red  rust  proof 

Common  mixed  

Hopetown  

Egyptian  

Black  prolific 

Probstier     .    ... 

White  wonder   

White  Belgian  

American  triumph  

Centennial 

Hargett's  white 

Wide  awake   . 

Canadian  black  

Black  Tartarian  

Virginia  winter  

14.  Varieties  tested  2  years  . 
Second  premium  white.  .  . 

Texas  red 

Improved  W  Russian 

White  Swede  

White  Victoria  

Baltic  white  

Black  Highlander 

Golden  giant  side 

Canada  white  

Early  Lackawana  

White  schonen  

Prince  Edward's  Island 

Swedish  

Prolific  side  

44 


BULLETIN    NO. 


February, 


both  grain  and  straw  is  given  for  the  two  or  three  years,  as  the  case  may 
be,  and  the  varieties  of  each  class  are  arranged  in  order  of  yield  of  grain, 
beginning  with  the  highest. 

To  show  that  no  one  variety  is  unquestionably  better  than  all  others 
(such  extravagant  claims  are  not  unfrequently  made  by  seedsmen),  see 
the  following  table,  giving  the  yield  and  comparative  rank  of  seven 
varieties  out  of  30  for  each  of  the  three  years,  during  which  this  experi- 
ment has  been  conducted.  It  will  be  seen  that  a  variety  which  holds  a 
high  rank  one  year  may  fall  to  a  very  low  one  in  the  years  following, 
or  vice  versa. 

For  example,  in  1889,  Texas  rust  proof  stood  at  the  very  foot  of 
the  30  varieties,  and  in  1890  ranked  as  the  first  of  44  varieties,  while  for 
this  season  it  ranks  as 


VARIATIONS  IN  RANK  AS  TO  YIELD  OF  SEVEN  VARIETIES  IN  THREE  YEARS. 


Name  of  variety. 

1889. 

1890. 

1891. 

Bu.  oats. 

Rank. 

Bu.  oats. 

Rank. 

Bu.  oats. 

Rank. 

New  Dakota  gray  .        

4i.3 
40 

51.3 
53-8 
42.6 
30 
50.3 

17 

20 
2 

I 
12 
30 

3 

39-4 

48.1 
48.8 
34-4 
38 
55-9 
25-5 

7 
3 

2 

J7 
8 
i 
29 

85 
79 
63.7 
69.2 
68.4 
72.2 
75-2 

i 

2 
23 

15 
17 

8 
5 

Pringle's  progress  

Early  Dakota  

Giant  yellow  French 

Welcome    

Texas  rust  proof 

Improved  American  

G.  E.  MORROW,  A.M.,  Agriculturist. 

F.  D.  GARDNER,  B.S.,  Assistant- Agriculturist. 


THE  CHINCH  BUG  IN  ILLINOIS,  1891-1892. 

The  almost  uniformly  high  temperature  of  the  spring  and  summer 
of  1890  and  1891  in  northern  and  in  southern  central  Illinois,  combined 
with  light  rainfall,  amounting  in  some  counties  to  little  less  than  contin- 
uous drouth,  favored  unusually  the  development  of  the  chinch  bug  in 
these  sections;  and,  if  similar  conditions  should  prevail  for  another  season, 
serious  loss  can  hardly  fail  to  ensue,  especially  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
state. 

South  of  central  Illinois,  the  region  threatened  is  a  belt  of  counties 
extending  from  about  the  line  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad 
northward  to  the  latitude  of  Springfield,  and  local  injury  is  possible  for 
some  distance  north  of  this.  To  the  north,  the  infested  district  is  a 
roughly  triangular  area  in  the  northeastern  corner  of  the  state,  of  which 
Stephenson  County  marks  the  western  angle  and  Kankakee  County  the 
southern.  The  distribution  of  injury  within  these  limits  is,  of  course, 
extremely  variable,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  examples  of  field  notes 
and  correspondence;  first  for  southern  Illinois,  and  then  for  the  northern 
part  of  the  State. 


1892.]  THE    CHINCH    BUG    IN    ILLINOIS,   1891-92.  45 

WASHINGTON. — Nashville,  July  8.  "Very  destructive  tocorn  in  places."  Dec.  7. 
Bugs  generally  diffused  in  limited  numbers.  Ashley,  Dec.  7.  Bugs  generally  diffused. 
Injury  to  wheat  slight;  corn  more  hurt. 

CLINTON. — Carlyle,  April  8  and  9.  Hibernating  in  rail  fences,  corn  shocks,  etc. 
Second  year  here.  Corn  and  wheat  suffered  some  in  1890.  Dec.  n.  A  few  bugs. 
No  harm  done. 

MARION.—  Vernon,  July  i.  "Leaving  wheat  for  corn.  Threaten  injury."  Salem, 
Dec.  9.  A  few  bugs  in  corn.  Odin,  Sept.  27.  In  large  quantities  in  one  field  of  corn. 
Dec.  10.  Locally  abundant. 

BOND. — Greenville,  June  27.  "Corn  alive  with  them."  Dec.  3.  Reported  present 
in  limited  numbers  last  season.  Effects  seen  mostly  in  corn;  some  wheat  light  weight. 
Smithboro,  July  10.  "Destroying  corn."  Dec.  4.  Report  similar  to  that  at  Greenville 
Chief  injury  to  corn. 

MONTGOMERY. — Litchfield,  May  27.  Found  bugs  in  most  wheat  fields  along  the 
road  for  four  miles  south  of  town.  Wheat  damaged  most  on  corn  ground  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  places  where  corn  shocks  had  stood  over  winter.  Eggs  abundant;  a  few 
young  bugs.  June  2.  Few  eggs  seen;  young  bugs  very  numerous.  From  ten  to  fit- 
teen  per  cent,  of  wheat  in  vicinity  where  corn  shocks  stood  is  ruined.  July  18. 
Chinch  bugs  very  abundant  in  and  near  woodlands  on  gray  soil.  Scarce  on  black 
lands  north  of  them.  Several  rows  of  corn  killed  in  many  fields  adjoining  small 
grains.  Scattered  traces  of  insect  disease,  but  not  sufficient  to  promise  any  important 
aid.  Sept.  23.  Bugs  collected  in  corn  fields.  Every  field  entered  contained  bugs 
enough  to  excite  apprehension  for  next  year. 

SHELBY. — Herrick,  Aug.  24.  Second  brood  of  chinch  bugs  will  seriously  dam- 
age corn;  many  stalks  completely  covered.  Shelbyville,  Nov.  16.  Bugs  present  in 
considerable  numbers.  Injuries  mostly  confined  to  corn. 

CHRISTIAN. — Morrisonville,  July  4.  "  Leaving  wheat  for  corn.  Threaten  great 
damage."  Taylormlle,  Nov.  17.  General  diffusion  of  bugs  reported.  Some  wheat 
reduced  to  light  weight;  corn  next  wheat  fields  injured. 

MACON. — Blue  Mound,  May  25.  Corn  and  wheat  infested  by  chinch  bugs.  June 
27.  Bugs  of  all  ages,  mostly  young,  present.  A  quart  can  nearly  full  of  them  sent  to 
the  office. 

In  addition  to  the  above  list,  a  general  diffusion  of  chinch  bugs  is 
also  reported,  with  little  or  no  injury,  from  the  counties  of  Brown, 
Champaign,  Coles,  Macon,  Sangamon,  Effingham,  Macoupin,  St.  Clair, 
Jefferson,  Wayne,  Clark,  Lawrence,  Edwards,  White,  Hamilton,  Ran- 
dolph, Pope,  and  Johnson. 

St.  Clair,  Washington,  Clinton  and  Montgomery  counties  reported 
the  bugs  as  being  present  in  small  numbers  in  1890  also.  A  noticeable 
feature  of  the  injury  to  wheat  in  this  part  of  the  state  is  that  it  suf- 
fered greater  damage  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  corn  shocks,  where 
the  shocks  were  permitted  to  remain  over  winter.  - 

In  northern  Illinois  the  prospect  is  more  serious.  Trips  of  investi- 
gation made  late  in  1891  showed  the  bugs  to  have  been  destructive 
locally  in  some  nine  counties  for  two  years,  and  in  a  few  places  for 
three  years  past.  Spring  wheat,  rye,  and  barley  have  afforded  them  the 
most  acceptable  breeding  places.  Destruction  of  these  grains  in  areas 
varying  from  a  fraction  of  an  acre  up  to  two,  three,  or  more,  acres  was 
common  all  through  the  infested  region ;  and  spring  wheat  was  fre- 
quently light  in  weight  because  of  the  attacks  of  the  bugs.  Oats  were 
quite  generally  infested,  but  did  not  suffer  so  severely  as  the  other  small 


46  BULLETIN   NO.    19.  [.February^ 

grains,  only  now  and  then  a  small  area  showing  noticeable  injury.  Corn 
next  to  spring  wheat,  rye,  or  barley,  suffered  considerable  damage,  sev- 
eral rows  next  such  fields  often  being  almost  wholly  worthless.  Fields 
at  a  distance  from  the  small  grains  contained  bugs  in  limited  numbers 
scattered  all  through  them,  but  were  not  commonly  damaged  notice- 
ably. The  situation  in  these  northern  counties  is  shown  more  specific- 
ally in  the  following  brief  abstracts  of  field  notes  and  correspondence: 

McHENRY. — Marengo,  Oct.  15.  Second  year  of  appearance.  Great  damage  to 
rye,  oats,  and  corn;  some  rye  and  corn  not  harvested.  Woodstock,  Oct.  16.  Abundant 
all  over  the  county.  Wheat,  corn,  and  barley  attacked;  corn  not  much  hurt.  Dam- 
age greater  than  last  year. 

BOONE. — Belvidere,  Oct.  15.  Bugs  reported  five  miles  from  town,  where  rye 
was  being  plowed  down  because  of  them. 

WINNEBAGO. — Rockford,  Oct.  17.  Abundant  all  through  this  region.  Rye  not 
much  harmed;  barley  severely  attacked;  wheat  and  corn  attacked  variously.  One 
crop  of  corn  reported  not  worth  gathering;  another  piece  was  half  destroyed;  and  one 
field  of  seven  acres  of  wheat  yielded  fifteen  bushels  gross.  Pecatonica,  Oct.  18.  The 
bugs  are  in  corn  nearly  a  mile  from  the  nearest  stubble.  Twenty  acres  of  corn  two 
miles  north  of  town  quite  spoiled  by  bugs  coming  out  of  rye. 

STEPHENSON. — Ridott,  Oct.  19.  Bugs  passed  from  rye  to  corn,  doing  no  very 
marked  damage  to  either.  On  bottom  land  found  bugs  on  corn  with  no  stubble  near. 
Lena,  Oct.  20.  Bugs  generally  present,  but  little  complaint  of  injury.  One  farmer 
reports  bugs  in  wheat,  going  thence  into  corn  and  damaging  it  seriously.  Warren, 
Oct.  20.  Traces  of  chinch  bugs  only. 

KANE. — Hampshire,  Oct.  14.  Chinch  bugs  appeared  here  two  years  ago;  last  year 
in  greater  numbers  than  the  year  before.  This  year,  barley,  wheat,  and  corn  damaged. 
Wm.  Warrington  had  three  acres  of  wheat  destroyed,  and  H.  Gilkerson  had  fifteen 
acres  of  wheat  injured  and  three  acres  of  corn  destroyed.  A  neighbor  of  his  had 
three  or  four  acres  of  spring  wheat  and  two  or  three  acres  of  corn  destroyed. 

DEKALB. — New  Lebanon,  June  2.  '  'Abundant  in  wheat  and  barley. ' '  Genoa,  Oct. 
15.  Chinch  bugs  reported  in  wheat,  -Hungarian,  and  corn.  They  are  also  found  in 
the  vicinity  of  Sycamore.  Shabbona,  Oct.  20.  Chinch  bugs  common  in  corn.  Some- 
what injurious. 

OGLE. — Davis  Junction,  Oct.  14.  Traces  of  bugs  all  along  the  road  from  here 
to  Stillman's  Valley.  Stillmaris  Valley,  Oct.  14.  A  few  rows  of  corn  next  rye  and 
spring  wheat  injured.  Payne' s  Point,  Oct.  15.  Bugs  went  from  rye  into  corn;  both 
damaged  some.  Barley  injured  also,  one  acre  of  corn  destroyed,  and  seven  acres 
badly  damaged.  Oregon,  Oct.  15.  Five  acres  of  corn  east  of  town  reported  destroyed. 
Ghana,  Oct.  15.  Bugs  generally  diffused  between  here  and  Payne's  Point.  Two  or 
three  acres  of  corn  destroyed  by  bugs  coming  from  rye.  Forreston,  Oct.  15.  Bugs 
were  flying  thickly  about  this  time  last  year.  Hibernated  abundantly  in  woods.  Rye, 
barley,  spring  wheat,  and  corn  hurt  about  as  badly  last  year  as  this.  North  of  town 
ten  acres  of  rye  ^as  so  badly  damaged  as  to  be  plowed  up.  Five  acres  of  corn  badly 
damaged;  much  rye,  barley,  and  spring  wheat  cut  before  it  ripened  to  save  it  from  the 
bugs.  Reports  from  Mt.  Morris,  Baileyville,  and  Rochelle  show  the  bugs  to  be  gener- 
ally distributed  over  the  county. 

WHITESIDE. — Sterling,  Oct.  21.     Chinch  bugs  few,  no  important  damage. 

From  the  foregoing  it  is  evident  that  the  cereal  crops  of  a  consider- 
able part  of  Illinois  for  the  coming  season  are  in  danger  unless  weather 
conditions  intervene  to  destroy  the  chinch  bug  or  to  check  its  multiplica- 
tion, and  that  with  unfavorable  weather  this  year,  1893  may  well  be 
dreaded  throughout  a  large  part  of  the  state  as  a  year  of  impending 


1892.]  THE    CHINCH    BUG    IN    ILLINOIS,    1891-92.  Ah 

agricultural  disaster — all  the  more  difficult  to  bear  because  the  agricul- 
ture of  Illinois,  and  especially  that  of  northern  Illinois,  will  be  extraor- 
dinarily conspicuous  during  that  Exposition  year.  We  have,  therefore, 
unusual  reason  to  take  prompt  and  thorough-going  measures  to  ward 
off  the  injury  thus  threatened. 

Practical  measures  of  defence  available  for  the  coming  season  are 
limited  to  the  present  destruction  of  the  bugs  in  their  winter  quarters; 
to  a  diminution  of  their  food  supply  by  intelligent  cropping;  to  the  sup- 
port of  infested  crops  by  the  use  of  fertilizers  and  a  liberal  agricultural 
method  in  general;  to  a  destruction  of  the  insects  in  small  grain  where 
they  appear  very  abundantly  in  patches;  to  an  arrest  of  their  movement 
and  a  destruction  of  them  as  they  pass  from  field  to  field  at  harvest;  and 
to  measures  for  the  prompt  dissemination  and  rapid  increase  of  their 
natural  contagious  diseases. 

The  attack  on  the  insect  in  its  winter  quarters  is  to  be  made  by  fire, 
carrying  the  torch  in  early  spring  over  headlands,  thickets,  and  borders  of 
woods,  and  into  the  wintering  places  of  the  pest  generally,  just  as  far 
and  as  thoroughly  as  practicable.  The  drier  the  rubbish  and  the  earth 
below,  the  more  certainly  will  the  fire  reach  the  hidden  insects.  There 
are  commonly  a  few  warm  days  in  spring,  just  previous  to  the  spring 
flight  of  the  bugs,  when  they  are  creeping  actively  about  near  the  surface 
of  their  winter  harborage,  at  which  time  a  fire  running  over  the  ground 
will  kill  a  greater  number  of  them  than  if  applied  earlier.  This  operation 
will  be  more  general  and  easy  where  the  fences  are  of  wire,  or  where 
an  effective  stock  law  makes  fences  needless. 

The  crops  to  be  especially  avoided  in  northern  Illinois  are  spring  C 
wheat,  barley,  rye,  Hungarian,  and  millet. 

To  support  an  infested  crop  against  the  drain  of  insect  injury  the 
quickly  acting  soluble  fertilizers,  containing  nitrogen  and  the  phos- 
phates, are  the  most  desirable.  The  sowing  of  clover  on  wheat  is  a 
beneficial  practice  quite  generally  known  to  farmers. 

Where  the  bugs  settle  in  the  fields  in  spring  in  patches,  it  may  be  a 
profitable  practice  to  destroy  the  young  there  as  they  hatch  and  before 
they  spread,  even  at  a  sacrifice  of  the  grain  if  necessary.  A  thorough 
wetting  of  such  patches  with  the  kerosene  emulsion  will  be  effective  for 
this  purpose.  It  may  be  necessary  in  some  cases  to  cover  such  areas 
with  straw  or  dry  straw-stack  waste,  to  be  burned  over  afterwards. 

As  they  move  from  field  to  field  their  passage  may  be  arrested  and 
the  chinch  bugs  killed  by  several  procedures  more  or  less  generally 
known.  A  deep  furrow  plowed  round  the  field  (to  be  kept  cleaned  out 
by  hand  if  necessary),  in  which  the  accumulating  chinch  bugs  may  be 
killed  mechanically  or  by  the  kerosene  emulsion  is,  perhaps,  on  the  whole, 
the  cheapest  and  the  most  effective  method.  A  variation  of  this  method, 
used  very  successfully  in  Wisconsin,  is  to  lay  fresh  corn  stalks  in  the 
furrow,  in  which  the  chinch  bugs  can  be  killed  as  they  accumulate,  as  be- 
fore, with  the  emulsion.  To  prepare  this  fluid,  mix  two  parts  of  kerosene 


48  BULLETIN   NO.    19.  [February,  1892. 

with  one  part  of  strong  hot  soap-suds,  and  violently  agitate  the  mixture 
with  a  handforce  pump  until  a  permanent  cream  or  butter  is  produced. 
This  may  then  be  diluted  with  ten  or  twelve  parts  of  water,  and  applied 
either  from  a  sprinkler  with  a  nozzle,  or  in  a  spray  from  a  hand  force 
pump.  A  minute  portion  of  the  mixture  is  sufficient  to  kill  the  bugs  of 
all  ages,  and  of  the  strength  here  recommended  does  not  injure  corn. 
It  may  be  used  successfully  against  the  bugs  collecting  on  the  outer  rows 
of  corn,  if  they  succeed  in  passing  the  barrier  above  described. 

The  fertilization  of  corn,  either  in  the  hill  or  by  general  application 
to  the  soil,  has  been  proved  a  very  considerable  defence  against  chinch- 
bug  injury. 

The  subject  of  the  use  of  contagious  insect  diseases  is  still  in  the  ex- 
perimental stage,  the  relations  of  this  method  to  various  weather  condi- 
tions being  as  yet  particularly  doubtful.  Its  promise  is  such,  however, 
as  to  make  it  well  worth  while  for  any  one  interested  to  try  the  experi- 
ment thoroughly  and  carefully.  For  this  purpose  application  should  be 
made  to  the  undersigned  for  material  for  infection,  a  large  quantity  of 
which  we  are  now  growing  by  artificial  methods  for  distribution  in 
the  spring. 

It  should  be  thoroughly  understood  by  everyone  that  isolated  and 
individual  measures,  while  often  productive  of  great  good,  are  of  but 
little  value  as  compared  with  a  general,  co-operative  attack  undertaken 
by  all  the  farmers  of  a  threatened  neighborhood. 

S.  A.  FORBES,  PH.D., 

Consulting  Entomologist. 


All  communications  intended  for  the  Station  should  be  addressed, 
not  to  any  person,  but  to  the 

AGRICULTURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  CHAMPAIGN,  ILLINOIS. 

The  bulletins  of  the   Experiment  Station  will  be  sent  free  of  all 
charges  to  persons  engaged  in  farming  who  may  request  that  they  be  sent. 

GEORGE  E.  MORROW, 

President  Board  of  Direction* 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


